Railways has launched an intensive safety and controllability trial on the crucial Mumbai–Pune corridor, a lifeline for lakhs of commuters and one of India’s busiest intercity routes. The initiative aims to assess braking reliability on the steep Western Ghats section, a zone long considered a technical challenge for operating longer and heavier trains.
The Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) deployed a specially configured train comprising a high-powered locomotive, 24 conventional passenger coaches and an inspection car for the tests between Lonavala and Karjat. The exercise has been designed to measure emergency braking distance and full-service braking distance, while evaluating whether trains can operate smoothly without the mandatory brake-check halts at Khandala and Monkey Hill. These halts, while vital for safety, have often delayed express services by up to five minutes.Railway experts confirmed that the trial schedule included both uninterrupted through-runs and non-recording runs, backed by additional locomotives and technical staff to ensure safety compliance. Sophisticated onboard instruments are recording every detail, while officials have underscored that the trial follows strict operational protocols.
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For Mumbai–Pune passengers, this could be transformative. The corridor is home to premium services like the Deccan Queen, Intercity Express and Vande Bharat Express. If the braking system proves reliable at higher speeds, passengers could see faster travel, fewer operational delays and reduced congestion on a stretch that handles thousands of daily travellers. It could also help improve punctuality across India’s broader network, given how intercity delays often ripple outward.
The safety trial is not just about speed, but also about sustainability. By minimising unscheduled halts and auxiliary locomotive support, fuel efficiency could improve and carbon emissions could be lowered. Transport analysts point out that these measures align with India’s wider goal of building eco-friendly, net-zero transport corridors while modernising critical railway infrastructure.
This is not the first such effort. Earlier, Indian Railways tested similar systems on the Kasara–Igatpuri section in the Nashik ghats. Results from both trials will inform nationwide standards for long-haul train operations in hilly terrain. Officials believe that adopting uniform braking protocols across ghat sections will increase safety margins, reduce dependence on banking locomotives, and pave the way for higher-capacity passenger services in the future.If successful, this could be a watershed moment for Indian Railways’ modernisation drive, balancing commuter convenience with sustainable transport planning. For millions of urban travellers and for India’s long-term economic ambitions, these trials represent a small but significant step toward greener, faster and safer mobility.
